Friday, June 14, 2013

UNO NSO Continues with O-Fest and Nighttime Fun

EmilyUNO and her Panhellenic friends recently gave up their "letters" during O-Fest at New
Student Orientation. As their green T-shirts say, they gave up their "letters" to
help incoming students find theirs. Greek Life at UNO is unlike any other.

New Student Orientation spiraled into nighttime fun at the University of New Orleans
on Wednesday at "O-Fest," which transformed the courtyard of a freshmen residence
hall into a student organization resource center and a party.

Orientation Fest, sponsored by the UNO Student Government, is designed to introduce
new students to the more than 120 student organizations on campus, a point of pride
at the University. The event, which ran from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in the courtyard
of Pontchartrain Hall brought welcome tables from nearly 50 organizations and the
Office of Student Involvement and Leadership.

Students toured the information tables and spoke with leaders at their leisure as
they capped off a day that introduced them to UNO with a campus tour, introduction
to student support services, faculty panel and breakout sessions on issues ranging
from campus dining, career counseling, the honors program and class registration to
campus housing, financial aid, campus recreation, Greek Life and student involvement
and leadership. Helping to ease the transition to other evening fun, O-Fest included
music, food, dancing and that New Orleans favorite: snowballs.

"It's an opportunity for all the student organizations on campus to showcase what
they are and what they are all about," said Nicole Ralston, student success counselor
in First Year Experience, of the annual NSO event.

Taija Williams, 18, of Phoenix, La. toured the tables with plans to join several organizations
in fall. Her high school had fewer offerings and she wasn't always as involved as
she'd like to be, she said.

"I'm going to make a change," said the fall freshman, who plans to study earth and
environmental sciences with plans of working eventually in coastal restoration projects.

Her community in Plaquemines Parish was heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina and
faces the brunt of coastal erosion issues, she said. Community activities that included
water testing, tree plantings and trips to study Louisiana wetlands helped her to
find her passion and make that decision, she said. Now she was looking for a complement.

"I was so scared at first, totally scared," she said of arriving on campus that morning
for Orientation. "Once I got here, it was better. Everyone was so friendly and inviting."

She feels more at ease about coming to the University in the fall, she said. The day's
sessions were informative and the nighttime fun had just begun.

With Taijia stood a new friend, Jessica Harris, 18, of Baton Rouge.

"Like her, I was scared because I'm not used to being on my own," she said. "She was
a friend, instantly. People are really nice over here, really welcoming and they try
to help you explain stuff, make sure you feel comfortable."Jessica took interest in Student Government, the Student Activities Council, and a
pre-law club, as well as the Catholic Newman Center and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
At Redemptress High School in Baton Rouge, she participated in a number of ministry
activities and enjoyed them.

O-Fest, she said, presented a world of opportunities.

"I think it's because I'm talking to all the organizations here. They're explaining
things, getting everyone together...the music, the food. It's like a gathering for
everyone."

Stepping and strolling along the sidewalk as the fall freshmen talked, members of
UNO's National Pan Hellenic Council fraternities got surrounding students into the
groove as bystanders watched and cheered, sometimes falling in line themselves to
show off their moves.

Student Organization leaders turned on the smiles and recruited.

"We're getting really great response," said Ariel Moore, 21, a senior from Mandeville,
La. and vice president of recruiting for Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. "It seems like a
lot of girls are very interested in Greek Life this year, more than usual. Everybody
seems like they want to go Greek. All the girls anyway. I haven't talked to the guys."Moore and sorority sisters wore strapless turquoise dresses and tan leather sandals
in a show of solidarity and sisterhood. The sorority's colors are turquoise and gray.

Moore is onto something, said Dale O'Neill, UNO Leadership Coordinator. UNO recognizes
fourteen Greek organizations — seven sororities and seven fraternities — each of which
is a campus chapter of a national group. Over the last year, National Pan-Hellenic
Council sororities have grown by nearly 20 percent, while Inter Fraternity Council
fraternities have grown by 22.4 percent.

O-Fest may have fallen at the end of long and invigorating day, but the nighttime
fun was just beginning, students said. Next up on the agenda: Late Night at the Rec,
and an Improv Show led by UNO Orientation Leaders.